We're asking residents to help support the safety of facilities and staff by removing batteries from electricals before recycling following a fire at Kirkhill waste transfer station last week. While the cause of the fire cannot be determined, fires across the waste sector typically occur when electricals containing batteries are thrown in with household waste or recycling. Electricals, if in suitable condition and with all parts and plugs, can also be donated to a directly to a charity or via a reuse container in Banchory, Ellon, Laurencekirk, Macduff, Stonehaven, Portlethen, or Peterhead household recycling centres. If not, they can be placed—with batteries removed—in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) container at any of the council’s recycling centres. WEEE containers are also available at Port Elphinstone’s Davidson Park and at Insch’s leisure centre car park. Our thanks to the transfer station operative who spotted the smoke and contacted the fire brigade, and to the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service for their quick response. If we had lost the waste transfer station to fire, it would cost millions to rebuild and disrupt all waste collections across the northeast of Aberdeenshire. Earlier this year, a fire at Peterhead’s household recycling centre resulted in damage to the electricals container and the loss of valuable electrical items for recycling, serving as a further reminder of the importance of removing batteries wherever possible. Household batteries can be recycled separately from other electrical waste at all household recycling centres. Household batteries can also be recycled as part of a home’s weekly kerbside collections using freely available pink battery bags. Simply leave a full and sealed battery bag on top of a kerbside bin being collected on any given week. Battery bags are available for free from local household recycling centres, libraries, or service points. Please note that these should not be used to dispose of vapes—they are for household batteries only. Pictured is smoke coming from the Waste Transfer Station with a fire engine on site.